Health is wealth

The country now has 131 specialty healthcare centers around the country.

And more are coming. President Marcos has announced that the government has allocated ₱11.12 billion to build more specialty healthcare centers in various parts of the country this year. This underscores the Marcos administration’s commitment to improving the country’s healthcare system.

Under the government’s healthcare program, these specialty centers will prioritize cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spinal care, trauma care, burn care, orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, and eye, ear, nose, and throat care.

The government’s move to invest in healthcare is a welcome development and a step in the right direction. This is vital as the government is zeroing in on economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

A healthy nation is essential not just to keep the economy afloat, but to keep it flourishing. Having a healthy and productive workforce is necessary and vital in keeping a strong economy.

Without a healthy workforce, the economy is bound to suffer.

A healthy workforce is certain to redound to a healthy economy. The healthier the workforce is, the more productive they become and the better it is for the economy.

With the government investing heavily on improving the country’s healthcare system, everyone should seize this opportunity to seek medical attention. Maintaining a healthy body requires regular medical checkups, whether one feels sick or not.

Everyone should practice preventive healthcare—screenings and check-ups to prevent illnesses, diseases, or other health problems from developing.

Let’s all practice preventive healthcare rather than curative or palliative healthcare.

For a long while, curative (focusing on curing an existing illness) and palliative (zeroing in on relieving symptoms) healthcare have been the common practice.

We can’t blame the public for opting for curative or palliative care, rather than preventive care. With the prohibitive cost of healthcare, majority would rather channel limited financial resources to other basic needs like food, electricity, and water.

But with all these specialty healthcare systems now made available to the public, everyone should take this opportunity to have regular medical checkups. Make it a habit to take regular preventive healthcare.

Let’s all remember the saying, health is wealth.